Fire Hoses and Appliances Firefighter II Module A

Fire Hoses and AppliancesFirefighter II Module A McHenry County College Firefighter II Class Spring Semester 2002

FIRE HOSES and APPLIANCES • See list of objectives given to you prior to class. • Identify is classroom • Demonstrate is “hands-on”

Fire Hoses and Appliances Identify the construction features of hose 2-7.1

Material from which hose is made: • Cotton • Nylon • Rayon vinyl • Poly-mired vinyl • Polyester

Construction methods: • Braided • Wrapped • Woven jacket • Poly-mired covered

Fire Hoses and Appliances Identify the types of fire hose. 2-7.2

Types of fire hose • Booster Line • Braided • ¾ inch and 1 inch • Attack Line • Woven-jacket or poly-mired covered • 1 ½ inch, 1 ¾ inch, 2 inch, 2 ½ inch, and 3 inch • Supply Line • Woven-jacket, poly-mired cover, rubber • 2 ½ inch, 3 inch, 4 inch, 5inch, 6 inch

Intake Line • Woven jacket, poly-mired, or wrapped • Hard suction and/or soft suction • Also know as soft or hard sleeve

Fire Hoses and Appliances Identify the types of fire hose damages and their preventions. 2-7.3

Mechanical Damage • Worn spots • Rips • Abrasions • Cracked inner lining • Crushed or damaged couplings

Mechanical Damage Prevention • Avoid laying or pulling hoses over sharp corners. • Provide warning devices to divert traffic. • Prevent vehicles from running over hoses and couplings. • Close nozzles slowly. • Change the bends in the hose when re-bedding. • Provide chaffing blocks • Avoid excessive pump pressures on hose lines.

Thermal Damage • Charring • Melting • Drying out of rubber lining

Thermal Damage Prevention • Protect hose excessive heat/fire. • Do not allow hose to remain in heated area after drying. • Use a moderate temperature for drying • Keep outer jacket dry. • Run water through hose that has not been used for some time. • Avoid drying hose on hot pavement and/or direct sunlight • Prevent hose from being laid to close or form coming in contact with vehicle exhaust. • Use hose bed covers to shield hose from elements. Freezing temperatures(snow and ice) also damage hose.

Mildew/Mold Damage(Organic) • Decay • Mold • Mildew • Deterioration

Chemical Damage • Exposure to petroleum products • Exposure to run off • Exposure to alkali and acids • Exposure to chemical materials and vapors

Organic Damage Prevention • All wet hose should be removed from apparatus, and replaced with good, dry hose. • Hose should be removed, inspected, swept, and reloaded every thirty days if not used. • Exercise hose every thirty days. • Run water through all hose every 90 days.

Chemical Damage Prevention • Thoroughly scrub all traces of acid contacts with baking soda and water. • Periodically remove hose from the apparatus, wash it, and run water through it. • Properly test hose if any suspicion of damage. • Avoid laying hose in the gutter. • Properly dispose of hose that has been exposed to hazardous materials and cannot be decontaminated.

General Care and Maintenance of Hose • Brush of loose dirt and such • broom • Washing hose • Several different ways • Wash with warm water and a mild soap • Commercial or generic hose washers • Rinse hose with water in different are than washed

General Care and Maintenance of Hose • Drying hose • Rubber jacket hose can be re-bedded wet, woven jacket and such cannot! • Use commercial hose dryer • Hang in hose tower

General Care and Maintenance of Hose • Storing • Should be stored rolled • On acceptable racks • Well ventilated room

Fire Hoses and Appliances Identify the construction features of fire hose couplings. 2-7.4

Materials • Brass alloy • Aluminum alloy • Magnesium

Types of Couplings • Threaded • Storz (pronounced stortz) • Others • Quarter turn • Oil filled rocker jug • Snap or Jones

Manufacturing Techniques of Couplings • Drop forged: hardest • Extruded: somewhat weaker than drop forged • Cast: weakest

Threaded Couplings • Three piece • Used on intake hoses • Five piece • Usually found on appliances and adapter fittings

Parts of Couplings • Shank • Swivel • Higbee cut and Indicator • Lugs

Shank • Also called tailpiece, bowl, or shell • Male has rocker lugs or pins • Female shank is smooth

Swivel • Contains female threads • Permits coupling without turning hose • Has rockers/lugs/pins • Shanks is smooth

Higbee Cut and Indicator • On both couplings • Special type thread designed to provide a positive connection between couplings • Indicator is a shallow indention of one of the lugs • Helps eliminate cross threading

Lugs • Pin • Not to common anymore, usually older hose • Tends to snag when hose is dragged • Rocker • Rounded to prevent hang ups • Found on all modern hose • Usually two to three lugs • Recessed • Usually found on booster lines

Storz Couplings • “Sexless” • No distinct male and/or female coupling • Coupled by a 1/3 turn • Newer ones have locking components to prevent water pressure spinning of hose • Grooved lugs • Insert rings built into the swivel

Care of Fire Hose Couplings • All parts of couplings are susceptible to damage • Male threads can be damaged if not protected • Female threads are not exposed, but the swivel is subject to bending damage

Care of Fire Hose Couplings • Avoid dropping and/or dragging • Do not permit vehicles to ride over them • Examine couplings when washing hose • Clean threads to remove tar, gravel, and oil • Inspect gasket, and replace if cracked or creased • Remove the gasket and twist the swivel in warm, soapy water.

Care of Fire Hose Couplings • Swivel gaskets and expansion gaskets should be tested after use and/or cleaning of the hose. • Swivel gasket- used to make the connection water tight. • Expansion Ring Gasket- used at the end of the hose where it is expanded into the shank of the coupling. See pictures. • Pinch the gasket between together between the thumb and index finger. This usually show any defects or signs of determination.

Hose Rolls Identify the uses of hose rolls. 2-7.5

Straight Roll • Placed in storage • Returned to quarters for washing • Loaded back on the apparatus

Donut Roll • Situations when it is going to be deployed directly from a roll for use. • Used when both ends to be together.

Twin Donut Roll • Used for a compartment roll which may be transported and used for high-rise operations. • Self-Locking Twin Donut • Same as above, except a carrying strap is formed.

Forward and Reverse Hose Lays Identify the difference between a forward and a reverse hose lay. 2-7.6

Hose Lays • Forward Lay • Reverse Lay • Split Lay

Forward Hose Lay • Also called a straight lay. • From the water source to the scene. • Laid form the water source to the fire.(tagging the hydrant) • Hose bed set up with female coupling coming off first. • Primary advantage is that pumper is at fire scene so hoses, tools, etc. can easily and quickly e obtained. • Operator also visual contact with crew and react better to changing conditions.

Forward Hose Lay • Disadvantage • Longs lays are near impossible and smaller diameter supply lines (21/2 and 3 inch) may need a second pumper to boost pressure. • One firefighter must be left at the hydrant to secure the water supply.

Reverse Hose Lays • Hose is laid from the fire scene to the water source. • The pumper must first stop at the scene, do a size up and drop the supply line. • Should be loaded with the male coupling coming off first. • Usually done with relay operations and/or drafting operations.

Reverse Hose Lays • Disadvantages • Essential tools and equipment are located far from the fire scene • This is also done when the initial engine attacks the fire and the second engine lays a supply to the initial attack engine.

Split Lays • Two lines laid forward • Two lines laid reverse • Reverse lay followed by a forward lay • Two lines laid forward followed by one or two lines laid reverse • Two lines laid reverse followed by the one or two lines laid forward.

Precautions while Advancing Hose Lines Identify precautions to be followed while advancing hose lines to a fire. 2-7.7

Advancing Hose Lines • Safety!!!!!!!!! Be alert for potential dangers especially of backdrafts, flashover, and potential or occurring building collapse. • All firefighters should be on the same side of the hose. • Check door for heat!, before you open it. • Bleed excess air from hose line and check nozzle pattern before entering. • STAY LOW! • Avoid blocking ventilation openings such as doors and windows.

Loading Hose Some General Guidelines.

Hose Loading • Check gaskets and swivels before connecting any hose. • When two sections are connected keep flat sides on same plane. • Hand tighten connections. • When the hose is bent to load, smooth the bend. • Avoid loading hose so that the coupling “turns”. Use a “dutchmen” to prevent this. • For LDH load all couplings in the front of the bed. • Do not pack hose tightly.

Fire Hoses and Appliances Firefighter II Module A